The Legend Of Pai Mei
David Carradine and Uma Thurman Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

David Carradine:

Once upon a time in China
Some believe around the year, one-double knot-three.
Head priest of The White Lotus Clan Pai Mei
Was walking down the road
Contemplating whatever a man with Pai Mei's infinite power would contemplate
Which is another way of saying, who knows.
When, a Shaolin monk appeared on the road traveling in the opposite direction.

As the monk and the priest crossed paths...
Pai Mei in a practically unfathomable display of generosity
Gave the monk the slightest of nods.
The nod, was not returned.

Now was it the intention of the Shaolin monk to insult Pai Mei?
Or, did he just fail to see the generous social gesture?
The motives of the monk, remain unknown.
What is known, were the consequences.

The next morning Pai Mei appeared at the Shaolin Temple,
And demanded that the temple's head Abbot offer Pai Mei his neck to repay the insult.
The Abbot, at first, tried to console Pai Mei, only to find, Pai Mei was inconsolable.

So began, the massacre of the Shaolin Temple,
And all sixty of the monks inside,
At the fists of the White Lotus.
And so began, the legend of Pai Mei's Five-Point Palm
Exploding Heart Technique.

Uma Thurman:

And what praytell




Is a five-point palm
Exploding heart technique?

Overall Meaning

The Legend of Pai Mei is a song from the Kill Bill soundtrack, featuring David Carradine and Uma Thurman. The song tells the story of Pai Mei, the head priest of The White Lotus Clan and his encounter with a Shaolin monk. Pai Mei, who is known for his infinite power, is seen contemplating as he walks down the road. As he comes across a Shaolin monk, he nods at the monk, but the nod is not returned. Pai Mei sees this as an insult and demands that the head Abbot of the Shaolin Temple offer him his neck to repay the insult. When the Abbot tries to console him, Pai Mei is inconsolable and ends up killing all sixty monks in the Shaolin Temple with the help of The White Lotus. This leads to Pai Mei becoming the legend he is and the creation of the Five-Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique.


The song touches on themes such as power, revenge, and the consequences of our actions. The act of nodding in our daily lives may seem insignificant, but in the story, it leads to a mass massacre. The song also raises the question of the intentions of the Shaolin monk. Was he intentionally trying to insult Pai Mei, or did he just fail to see the gesture? The answer remains unknown, but the consequences are deadly.


Line by Line Meaning

Once upon a time in China
In an indefinite past, possibly around the year 103, a story took place.


Some believe around the year, one-double knot-three.
There is a belief that this story took place around the year 103.


Head priest of The White Lotus Clan Pai Mei
Pai Mei was the leader of The White Lotus Clan.


Was walking down the road
Pai Mei was walking on a path.


Contemplating whatever a man with Pai Mei's infinite power would contemplate
Pai Mei was thinking about something that a man with his abilities could only understand.


Which is another way of saying, who knows.
It is difficult to determine what Pai Mei was thinking.


When, a Shaolin monk appeared on the road traveling in the opposite direction.
A Shaolin monk came in the opposite direction while Pai Mei was walking.


As the monk and the priest crossed paths...
Pai Mei and the monk met each other on the path.


Pai Mei in a practically unfathomable display of generosity
Pai Mei showed a great deal of generosity through his actions.


Gave the monk the slightest of nods.
Pai Mei nodded his head slightly towards the monk.


The nod, was not returned.
The monk did not reciprocate the gesture.


Now was it the intention of the Shaolin monk to insult Pai Mei?
It is uncertain whether the Shaolin monk intended to insult Pai Mei.


Or, did he just fail to see the generous social gesture?
Could it be possible that the monk simply didn't notice the kind gesture?


The motives of the monk, remain unknown.
The reason behind the monk's actions is not known.


What is known, were the consequences.
However, what happened after this event is known.


The next morning Pai Mei appeared at the Shaolin Temple,
Pai Mei arrived at the Shaolin Temple on the following morning.


And demanded that the temple's head Abbot offer Pai Mei his neck to repay the insult.
Pai Mei requested that the head Abbot of the temple offer his neck as an apology.


The Abbot, at first, tried to console Pai Mei, only to find, Pai Mei was inconsolable.
Initially, the Abbot tried to calm Pai Mei down but it was of no effect.


So began, the massacre of the Shaolin Temple,
Thus began the attack on the Shaolin Temple,


And all sixty of the monks inside,
All sixty of the monks within the temple


At the fists of the White Lotus.
were eliminated by The White Lotus Clan.


And so began, the legend of Pai Mei's Five-Point Palm
This is how the story emerged about Pai Mei's Five-Point Palm technique,


Exploding Heart Technique.
which has the ability to cause the heart of a person to burst.


And what praytell
What does


Is a five-point palm
The Five-Point Palm technique


Exploding heart technique?
is a move that targets the heart and causes it to explode.




Contributed by Jeremiah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ZenRyoku

* I HAVE HAD SO MANY REQUESTS ON THE MUSIC IN THIS CLIP...

I DECIDED TO FINALLY PUT A LINK IN THE DESCRIPTION TO THE SOUND TRACK OF THE MOVIE.

ENJOY....

"HHHMMMAAA HHHAAA HAAAA...."

* SWIPES BEARD *



@vanwangye

Yes. Agree with Wesker. There one detail maybe some notice. When she displace Japanese martial arts, he quickly defeat her.

But when she used "Tiger crane style", Pai Mei give her more time. And she only use the tiger part of "Tiger crane style". She didnt use the crane section.

Pai Mei havent even used his tiger style in full power. This show in chinese martial arts side. Pai Mei ready give alot of time and loopholes for her.

So when Pai Mei said she dont know anything is true. As even tiger crane style, she displaced only half of it.

Pai Mei mocked her japanese swordmanship but didnt mock her tiger crane style despite she displaced only half of it.



@jesusisgod2953

To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

Are you saved? Where will you go when you die? Heaven or hell?

The Gospel, which means the Good News is the news that God Almighty, the Creator came in the flesh as Jesus Christ to take away the sin of the world. The one God is a trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Son came and laid down his own life to save ours. His sacrifice on the cross paid the price for our redemption with his own blood. On the third day he rose from dead and offers the gift of salvation and forgiveness to those that repent and trust in him. Although God's creation was created perfect, having no death, sickness and disease, the creation became corrupted through Adam and Eve in them disobeying God. In this rebellion the creation became fallen through the curse of sin and mankind became separated from God. This world is fallen, but God offers reconciliation to him through his provision at the cross. Ultimately God will restore his creation to perfection when he returns but those that who reject his offer of redemption will remain condemned by their sins and go to hell.

John 1:1,14 KJV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD. [14] And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us,

1 John 3:8 KJV
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Isaiah 9:6 KJV
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty GOD, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

John 1:10
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT.



@ZenRyoku

@@kitsunegiblaze8022 SHOALIN SHADOW BOXING....

....AND THE WU-TANG SWORD STYLE...

...IF YOU WHAT YOU SAY IS TRUE THEN THEY COULD BE DANGEROUS....

....DO YOU THINK YOUR WU-TANG SWORD CAN DEFEAT ME....?

(*SHHHIIIIING!*)

ENGUARD....
....I'LL LET YOU TRY MY WU-TANG STYLE....😎🔥🥋



All comments from YouTube:

@ZenRyoku

* I HAVE HAD SO MANY REQUESTS ON THE MUSIC IN THIS CLIP...

I DECIDED TO FINALLY PUT A LINK IN THE DESCRIPTION TO THE SOUND TRACK OF THE MOVIE.

ENJOY....

"HHHMMMAAA HHHAAA HAAAA...."

* SWIPES BEARD *

@ApolosaCakau

What link? Zooms out

@IngramSnake

Did anybody notice how he says "lil' Kim's short" at https://youtu.be/3VtfqAym5sQ?t=286

@Moota6777

Thank you
Swipes beard

@ZenRyoku

@@IngramSnake shit.... can't believe i missed that shit...

lil kim AAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL tha way.... . ❤️💯

@bridgecross

I was listening to the soundtrack in my car, and the only track I cant find is this one: 5:28 Too bad, that's the best track!

32 More Replies...

@bogdan7458

Speaks one word in Mandarin. "Your Mandarin is lousy."

Pai Mei has no chill.

@SledRider-bf3ih

Probably because of the way she pronounces it. Lol

@syednoorerasul

*had

@DarkestValar

420th upvote
0% chill

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